The Columbian

Health Wire

Carter’s dream, almost reached: Guinea worm cases drop to 14

January 26, 2022, 8:49am Health

Guinea worm infections dropped to just over a dozen worldwide last year, getting closer to fulfilling former President Jimmy Carter’s dream of completely eradicating the disease during his lifetime. Read story

FILE - Youngstown City Health Department worker Faith Terreri grabs two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event, Dec. 30, 2021, in Youngstown, Ohio. Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for those on their plans, the Biden administration announced Monday, as it looks to lower costs and make testing for the virus more convenient amid rising frustrations.

What to know about at-home COVID-19 tests

January 26, 2022, 7:46am Health Free

With new websites to order at-home COVID-19 tests and shifting guidance on what to do if you test positive, we’ve compiled a guide of what you need to know about coronavirus testing. Read story

Nationwide blood shortage puts Idaho hospitals in dire need

January 25, 2022, 7:04pm Health

A national blood shortage caused by a surge in omicron cases has hit Idaho hard, with some hospitals nearly running out of the critical medical resource before they are resupplied, state health officials said Tuesday. Read story

FILE - Pharmacist Sima Manifar prepares a children's dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at City of Lawrence's "The Center," which serves seniors, families and the community, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Lawrence, Mass. Pfizer has begun a study comparing its original COVID-19 vaccine with doses specially tweaked to match the omicron variant. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022.

Pfizer opens study of COVID shots updated to match omicron

January 25, 2022, 7:43am Business

Pfizer has begun a study comparing its original COVID-19 vaccine with doses specially tweaked to match the hugely contagious omicron variant. Read story

Kids with COVID-tied MIS-C recover

January 25, 2022, 6:02am Health

Children who develop COVID-19-related multisystem inflammatory syndrome, also called MIS-C, begin recovering in the first week of hospital discharge and fully recover normal heart function within three months, according to a new study. Read story

FILE - This Feb. 20, 2015 file photo shows an arrangement of peanuts in New York. According to a study published in the journal Lancet on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, young children might be able to overcome their peanut allergies if treated at an early enough age.

Treat peanut allergies early

January 25, 2022, 6:02am Health

Young children might be able to overcome their peanut allergies if treated at an early enough age, according to a study published Thursday. Read story

Dermatologist discusses male-pattern baldness

January 25, 2022, 6:02am Health

You look in the mirror and notice you’re going bald. It’s a reality that many men must face. Read story

This scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows rod-shaped Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. According to a report published Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in the medical journal Lancet, antibiotic-resistant germs caused more than 1.2 million deaths globally in one year, according to new research that suggests that so-called "superbugs" have joined the ranks of the world's leading infectious disease killers.

Study: Drug-resistant bacteria kill 1.2 million people globally

January 25, 2022, 6:00am Health

Antibiotic-resistant germs caused more than 1.2 million deaths globally in one year, according to new research that suggests that these “superbugs” have joined the ranks of the world’s leading infectious disease killers. Read story

Workers walk over London Bridge towards the City of London financial district during the morning rush hour, in London, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The British government have asked people to return to working in offices starting Monday as they ease coronavirus restrictions.

Hope seen once omicron wave increases global immunity

January 24, 2022, 3:59pm Health

World health officials are offering hope that the ebbing of the omicron wave could give way to a new, more manageable phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they warn of difficult weeks ahead and the possibility of another, more dangerous variant arising. Read story